Thymelaea passerina, (L.) Cosson

17. T. passerina (L.) Cosson View in CoL &. Germ., FI. Env. Paris ed. 2, 586 (1861)

( Lygia passerina (L.) Fasano , Passerina annua Wikstr. ).

Annual; stems 20-50 cm, erect, glabrous or rarely pubescent. Leaves 8 -1 4x 1-2 mm, linear-lanceolate, acute, glabrous. Flowers hermaphrodite, greenish, solitary or in clusters of 2-3, arising from a tuft of silky hairs and subtended by 2 lanceolate bracts 2-3 mm long. Hypanthium 2-3 mm, pubescent; sepals 1 mm, ovate, obtuse. Fruit pubescent. S., W., C. & S.E. Europe, northwards to 53° N. in Poland and eastwards to 40° E. in S. Russia. Al Au Be Bu Co Cz Ga Ge G r He Hs Hu It Ju Lu Po Rm Rs (C, W, K, E) Sa Si.

Plants from Sicilia, Sardegna and Corse (and also from S.W. Asia), described originally as Stellerà pubescens Guss. , FI. Sic. Prodr. 1: 466 (1827), appear to differ in their pubescent leaves, whitish flowers in a denser spike, and later time of flowering. Their status is obscure, and they appear to have no valid name, whether as species or variety, under Thymelaea .